I hesitate to tell you how long I’ve been looking for a way to add and automate updates to my Ning profile pages. Several months ago I heard about Ping.FM and love the way it automates updates on a wide variety of social media sites – although there are some more I think should be added.

But, my biggest wish was to find a way to add these updates to my Ning profiles – and I have profiles on almost 40 Ning networks. So – that one little thing could add updates to 40 more social sites. Maybe that explains why I was so anxious to find a way to automate this.

Just a note – in case you’re reading this and don’t know what I mean by “update” – this is the short messages that we post on Twitter and that you see on other social sites like Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn and MANY other sites. It is in that box that usually says something like – What are you doing?

So last night I was working on the social media package descriptions for a new social media setup that we will be offering in the very near future. I was creating a spreadsheet template for the full list of social sites that we set up for clients who opt for this service. I checked the Ping.FM site to be sure I hadn’t missed any sites – and that’s when I saw Shoutem.com. I’m not sure if its new or if I just missed it in the past.

I clicked on Shoutem.com to add it to my postings from Ping.FM and I set up my profile on their site. That’s when I saw a note about adding ShoutEm.com to my Ning site. At that point – I stopped everything else and had to check out the post.

I will admit that I made a few mistakes in this setup – but it is working now. I’ll even share the silly things I did wrong to save you all that wasted time 🙂 So – here are my step by step instructions for this setup. As a quick bit of shameless self promotion – this is a small part of the new social media setup programs that my company Promo 101 Promotional Services offers — more information about that when I finish designing the packages we will offer.

Set up your own network or join another network on ShoutEm. You will need the URL for your network and also your user name when you set up the Ning application.

You need at least one account on a Ning Network. If you don’t have any, but would like to check it out – I invite you to visit one of mine http://readersstation.ning.com

Once these accounts are in place – log into your Ping.fm account and you will be on the dashboard. On the left side of the page you will see “Add More Networks”. Click there and it will bring up the full list of sites that you can connect on.

I was unsure what needed to go in the “server” box – use your URL with the http:// and you do not need to include your username in the URL.

Go to your ShoutEm network page – this is mine http://promo101.shoutem.com/admin to see an example. At the bottom of the page, click on “widgets”. This page will give you the URL to use on your Ning page and it also gives you the html if you want to add the ShoutEm.com widget to your own Ning network.

Go to your Ning profile page and on just about every network that I’m on – under my profile picture I see this link – Add Profile Apps

Click on Add Profile Apps and you will see a list of applications that you can add. In the left column – you will see a list of links, click on +Add by URL

Go back to your Ning Profile page and click “settings” on your ShoutEm box which will be at the top of the page. In the first box – put the URL for your network – mine is promo101.shoutem.com and in the second box add your username – mine is admin

Once that is done – you are ready to post. Add a new ping on Ping.FM and it should post on all your Ning profile pages where you added the ShoutEm application.

That may seem like a lot – but imagine all the time you will save once it is setup.

This is one small part of the social media setup that we offer. It is a wonderful and very useful tool to help you connect with people on your social networks. We can even set this up so that you can “ping” through your email account. If you would like more information, feel free to contact nikki@nikkileigh.com

Till next time – Look for more tips….

Nikki LeighAuthor of Book Promo 201: Harness the Power of the Internet with Web 2.0 and Social Media Marketing

Are you a book blogger? Are you a book lover? Are you interested in finding a book that will transport you to an exotic locale? You NEED to learn more about this book.

We will be working with author, Barbara Bonfigli during the summer and we can’t wait to share her debut novel and fictional memoir- Cafe Tempest. Get your “ticket” now for a summer trip to a Greek island……

Join nationally acclaimed author, MaAnna Stephenson, on her blog book tour this July. Two decades of technical writing, web design and marketing for countless private clients and community groups have led her to produce a new instructional series titled Just the FAQs, the ultimate user-friendly guides to the technical aspects of internet marketing and promotions.

Each time a blog visitor comments on any or all of the blog stops, they will be entered in a random drawing for two free Just the FAQs classes. Not only that, but every commenter is a winner and will receive a copy of MaAnna Stephenson’s e-book the Quick Step Guide. If you haven’t already read her books, be sure to pick up the series at http://www.justthefaqs.net/ebooks.shtml .

Series Description

Just the FAQs is a series of e-books that are the ultimate user-friendly guides to marketing and promotions on the Internet. They help authors create online marketing sites that work. Just the FAQs e-books are written specifically for those who are new to online marketing and contain no geek-speak and no tech-talk. They will help you:

Dramatically reduce the learning curve in setting up a blog with RSS feeds the right way, the first time.

Fully prepare to be a knowledgeable, confident owner of sites that get results.

Gather and organize all content needed on both static and Web 2.0 sites by using printable worksheets.

Get quickly setup with major article directories and acquire tips for running a smooth article marketing campaign.

Become educated on the technical aspects of online marketing without all the hard-to-understand technical terminology.

Quickly and easily follow the documentation with color-enhanced instructions that appeal to the more creatively-minded client.

Finally, books for non-geeks!

Individual Book Descriptions

Just the FAQs – Quick Step Guide Just the essentials for setting up a blog with RSS Feeds. Once you see how easy it is to use JTF eBooks, we know you’ll come back for more. (Free to download at http://www.justthefaqs.net)

Just the FAQs – Blogs Guides you step-by-step through creating, customizing, and optimizing your blog on Blogger with no geek-speak and no-tech talk. If you can click a mouse, you can have a presence on the Web.

Just the FAQs – RSS Feeds Guides you step-by-step through creating, customizing, and optimizing RSS Feeds for your blog on FeedBurner with no geek-speak and no-tech talk. If you can click a mouse, you can have a presence on the Web. A perfect companion book to Just the FAQs – Blogs.

Just the FAQs – Web Sites This easy-to-read book includes all the information you need to learn about domains, hosting, and design elements. It also includes three printable worksheets that will help you organize your marketing information and tips to help you avoid costly pitfalls of Web site ownership.

Just the FAQs – Articles Step-by-step instructions for registering and submitting to major article directories. Included are tips and tricks to help you organize and streamline your article marketing campaign.

About MaAnna Stephenson:

MaAnna Stephenson is a nationally acclaimed author, and woodcarver based in Nashville, Tennessee. Two decades of technical writing, web design and marketing for countless private clients and community groups have led her to produce a new instructional series titled Just the FAQs, the ultimate user-friendly guides to the technical aspects of internet marketing and promotions.

Formally trained in electronics, technical writing, acoustics, and music, MaAnna lives immersed in the relationship between science and the intuitive arts. Four years of intense research into these topics resulted in the writing of The Sage Age – Blending Science with Intuitive Wisdom, which was featured in Publishers Weekly shortly after its debut.

MaAnna is also a multi-instrumentalist and published composer with international airplay. Her unique woodcarvings have been featured in Scrollsaw, Woodworking & Crafts and Woodcarving Illustrated.

If you’re a blog writer the folks at Amazon is offering yet another way for you to monetize your blog. Amazon is allowing you to sell the contents of the blog itself to owners of the Amazon Kindle and Amazon Kindle for iPhone applications.

A blog writer charges a monthly subscription price for every subscriber which they will receive 30% from. That means 70% of the subscription will go to Amazon. Amazon will set the price for blog subscriptions and writers will not have the option of offering their blog for free. Amazon estimates that it takes 12 to 48 hours to make a blog available through the Kindle Store.

When I read something like this it really gets the gears in my head turning in regards to what one could write that would be interesting enough for someone to pay for. Usually, the most honest answer is most of us would be surprised. That’s why I say if you got a blog it doesn’t hurt to offer it on Kindle. Even if it only adds up to extra beer money every month.

Like this:

Barbara Techel was on vacation when she got some heartbreaking news. Her beloved dachshund, Frankie, had been injured in a freak accident. If Frankie lived, she might be paralyzed. Would Frankie survive? Could Barbara care for a severely disabled dog?

Frankie recovered and thrived, and she kept rolling with a custom-fit wheelchair. Her story is told in a unique picture book for children, Frankie the Walk ‘n Roll Dog. This book was awarded the 2008 National Best Book Award (children’s picture book soft cover) by USA Book News, the Merial Human-Animal Bond Award by Dog Writer’s Association of America, and the Editor’s Choice Award by Allbooks Review. It was also a finalist in the 2008 Indie Excellence Awards. Frankie herself was inducted into the 2009 Wisconsin Pet Hall of Fame.

Barbara has written: “I absolutely believe animals were put on this earth to awaken us and teach us what life is truly about … When Frankie ruptured a disk in her back in 2006 …I struggled … letting sorrow, at first, take over. As Frankie began to heal, I realized she was still the same Frankie even though she was now paralyzed. She did not let her physical handicap get in the way of being the same sweet dog she was before her accident. Realizing the opportunity to share this lesson with others, I wrote Frankie’s life story. It is told by Frankie herself, through me, her loving human mom.”

Children love this book, and it resonates with dog lovers, families of kids with disabilities, and book lovers of all ages.

Please join us in June for Barbara and Frankie’s virtual book tour! Throughout the month of June, authors, bloggers, parents, and animal experts will share their book reviews, interviews with Barbara, and other contributions.

There will be a SPECIAL OFFER FOR VISITORS TO THE VIRTUAL BLOG TOUR. Each guest who comments on a post in Barbara and Frankie’s tour will be entered in a drawing for some fun, unique gifts that will especially appeal to Frankie fans and other dog lovers. We will give away several items from Frankie’s store. These include two Frankie t-shirts and two Frankie tote bags.

We may also have a few more great bloggers joining this tour, so stay tuned for updates!

Mon, June 15 — Kyra at This Mom (http://kyraanderson.wordpress.com) posts her review. Kyra is a mom and writer who explores the joy and challenges of motherhood and raising an amazing son with Asperger’s Syndrome.